Stapling-machine.



L. B. GIRARD.

STAPL ING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. I915.

Patented May 23,1916.

4- SHEETSSHEET I.

fann ar 'rmv cwnmA PLANOGIZAI'H co WASHINGTON. x). c.

L. B. GIRARD.

STAPLING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. 1915.

1,184,442. Patented May 23,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

if If L. B. GlRARD.

STAPLING MACHINE. l 91 4,442. APPLICATION FILED SEP'F. 8, 19175-Patented May 23 4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

L. B. GIRARD.

STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a. 1915.

l ,1 84,442. I Patented May 23, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

QQMZM 42/145944 THE- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH Co WASHINGTON. n. c.

s'ra'rns PA P LOUIS B. GIRARD, 013 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TOTHE GIRARD MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ACORPORATION OF CALI- FO-BNIA.

STAPLING-MACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

o all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Louis B. GIRARD, a citizenof the United States, residing at Los lngeles, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, have'invented a new and usefulstapling-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for making staples and for drivingthe formed staples into the work, such as boxes or the ike, that is tobe fastened by stapling.

One important object of the present inven ion is to provide forconvenientand effective support of the Work in positlon for stapling.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the samework supporting means may be used for different parts of the box orwork, for example for stapling both the sides and end of the box.

A further object of the invention is to provide work supporting meanswhich will permit different thicknesses of work to be stapled, and willmaintain effective pressure thereon under all conditions.

My'invention is hereinafter disclosed with reference to the general typeof stapling machine shown in my application Ser. No. 28,835, filed May18, 1915, and in such. connection an object of the present invention isto provide improved means for operating the various die parts.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of my invention, andreferring thereto:

Figure 1 is a partly sectional side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 isa partly sec tional plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thedie and work holder means, and the supporting means therefor, with thefront plate removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the die means. Fig.5 is a section on line 5-5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of theanvil over which the staple is formed. Fig. 7 is an end elevationthereof, with the adjacent portion of the female die member viewed fromthe slot in said die member. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the rearpedestal with the inclined parts in elevation. Fig. 9 is a section online 99 in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the clutch mechanism. Fig.11 is a section on line 11-.11 in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a side elevationof the work supporting means and the adjacent portion of the die means.Fig.

13 is a plan view of the work holder, the supporting means thereforbeing shown partly 1n section. Fig. 14 is an end elevat1on of the worksupporting means with the work thereof in position for side-stapling abox. Fig. 15 is an end elevation of the work support with the work inposition for stapling the end of a box.

he machine comprises a suitable frame, die means for forming and drivinga staple, means for feeding a blank strip to said die means, and a worksupport operated automatlcally to raise and hold the work in position toreceive the staples.

It also comprises a work holder between sald support and the die means,for holding Elie work during the side-stapling operaion.

The frame of the machine may comprise a base 1, pillars or pedestals 2and 3 extending upwardly from said base, and an arm 4: extendinghorizontally from pillar 2 and provided with a head 5 in which the diesare mounted, directly over the pillar 3.

The machine is preferably power-open ated, a driving shaft 6 beingmounted in bearings 7 in pillar 2 and carrying a driving pulley 8 whichalso serves as a fly wheel.

The several parts of the machine are actuated by a member 9, which ismounted on and keyed to shaft 6, and is adapted to be clutched to thefly wheel or driving pulley 8 by any suitable means, for example by theclutching means shown in Fig. 10. Said clutching means comprises a pin11 mounted to slide in member 9, parallel to the axis of shaft 6, andadapted to enter any one of a number of holes 12 in driving pulley 8, aspring 13 being provided for driving said pin toward the pulley. A wedgeor inclined face portion 14 on pin 11 is adapted to be engaged by aninclined end portion or face 15 on a lever 15 which is pivotally mountedat 16 and is connected by rod 17 (see Figs. 1 and 8) to an arm 18 on ashaft 20 which is provided with an operating pedal 21. Member 9 isprovided with a cam or eccentric means 22 for operating the die means,and with cam means 23 for operating the work support. Guard means 19 arepreferably provided for the clutch holes 12 in driving pulley 8,consisting of resilient pins or wires, secured at 19 to the pulleyadjacent to each hole and extending over the p rtion of the hole whichis the last to come under the clutch pin, the hole 12 being elongated sothat suflicient room is left between the guard means 19 and the initialend of the hole 12 to permit the pin 11 to freely enter the holeprovided it moves to ward the wheel while it is opposite this initialportion of the hole and the guard 19 will then yield and bend to allowthe pin 11 to come in contact with the forward end wall of the hole soas to drive the wheel. If however, the pin moves toward the wheel at atime when it is opposite the guard, it will strike the guard and ridethereon, so as to be carried over to the next hole. This preventsbreakage or undue wear of the wall at the forward end of the hole, suchas would otherwise be caused by the pin, entering the hole too late toeffectively engage'the same, with the result that the edges of the pinand hole wall are smashed or unduly worn. A wear plate 12 may also beprovided at the forward end of each hole 12 to take unavoidable wear.

The die means may comprise die members constructed substantially as inmy prior application aforesaid, namely, a female die member 25 mountedat the bottom of the die head 5, a male die member 26 mounted to slidein a vertical way 27 in said die head, and provided with parallelvertical prongs 28 adapted to enter a vertical slot 29 in said femaledie member, and a severing die 30 mounted to slide vertically on saidmale die member 26, between said vertical prongs. An anvil member 33 ismounted to slide horizontally in the female die member 25 and isprovided at its inner end with aprojecti-on 34: normally extending intoslot 29,

and formed with a horizontal slit 36 adapted to receive the end of theblank strip. Above said slit the member 33 is provided with an inclinedface portion 38 and below said slit member 33 is provided with avertical face 39 and with an inclined face 10 below said vertical face,for the purposes hereinafter set forth. Said member 33 is also shown asprovided with lateral flanges 41 to ride on top of the female die member25. A spring 42 presses anvil member 33 so as to normally hold theprojection or anvil in position within the slot 29. The severing die 30is connected by link 14: to one arm of abell crank 45, pivotally mountedat '16 onthe die head, the other arm of said bell crank being connectedby rod -17 to the strap 48 of eccentric 22 on the actuating member 9aforesaid. Links 50 and 51 are pivotally connected to bell crank 15 andto die member 26 respectively by pivots 52 and 53, and are pivotedtogether at 5%, so asto form a toggle. A tripping device con sisting ofa screw 49 mounted on the die head, is adapted to engage the knuckle orintermediate pivot 541 of the toggle to break or bend the same, ashereinafter set forth, and a spring 43 engages the toggle so as to holdit normally in straight posi tion, in contact with link 44. Die member26 is provided with a shoulder 32, adapted to engage a stop screw 37mounted on the die head 5. Spring 43 holds the toggle straight untilscrew stop 49 breaks the toggle; This spring then becomes a means tohold die member 26 downwardly, said spring tending to straighten thetoggle and cause the latter to exert a yielding downward pressure onsaid die memher, so as to hold shoulder 32 against stop means 37 withthe result that the die members 28 are held ,in position to laterallyconfine and support the prongs of the staple during the drivingoperation. Stop screw 37 regulates the position at which-die mem'ber26rests while the severingdie is driving the staple, said stop screw beingadjusted so thatthe'diemembers 28 are permitted todescend just farenough to bring them'in 'contact with the work, or to-the lower face ofthe die "head. Spring 43 also acts as a stripper for severing member 30,by'holdingthe die member 26 down while the member 30 is rising duringthe return stroke.

The strip feeding means is not herein shown in detail, as it may be ofthe same construction'and operation as in my prior applicationaforesaid. In a general way said means comprises a strip reel or drum55, mounted to turn on an arm '56 which is pivotally mounted at 57 onthe die 'head, so as to "turn concentrically withthe center of thedie-means; and feed -means"5'8 adapted to engage the stock strip 59 tofeed the same forward from the reel 55, and operated by a rod 62connected to the bell crank 45.

The work supporting means comprises a support '66 and a work holder 67adapted to extend between said support and the die means, for holdingand supporting the work during side stapling. The support 66 is formedasa bar mounted to slide vertically in a guideorbearing68'inpillar 3, andconnected by a rod 69 to-a 'llnk 70, said link being pivotally connectedto one arm of a bell crank '72, pivoted at 72 in the base 1. The pivot73, connec'ting*the support 66 to rod 69,=the pivot 74 connecting therod 69 to link :and the pivot 75 connecting the said link to the bellcrank 72 are normally all substantially in line, so that they are ondead center. A spring 77 connected to rod 69 and to the pillar 3tends todrawsaid rod upwardly and also to draw said rod to position to causethe'link 70 to bear and ride on a stop means'78 formed as a projectionon an arm 79 carried by a shaft 80 which extends through the wall ofbase 1 and is provided outside of said base with a pedal "82. Astopscrew 83 isprovided for engaging the arm 79 to adjust the stopmeans78 to proper position. Rod 69 and link 70 constitute a toggle whichis normally held straight by spring 77. Bell crank 72 is connected byrod 85 to one arm of a bell crank 86 pivoted in the base 1 and havingits other arm connected to a rod 87 which extends upwardly within pillar2, and is guided at its upper end by a link 88 pivoted at 89 to thepillar 2, and pivotally connected to rod 87 by a pin 88'. Said pin 88'extends through said rod 87 and projects through slots 90 in a head 91,which is mounted to slide on the upper end of rod 87, and carries aroller 92 adapted to engage the cam 23 on the member aforesaid. A spring97 connected to rod 87 and to pillar or pedestal 2, tends to draw saidrod upwardly so as to constantly hold roller 92 in engagement with cam23. Spring 93 is compressed between a shoulder 94 on head 91, and ascrew collar 95 on rod 87. The pin 88 passes through rod 87 and alsothrough slots 90 in head 91, and limits the motion of head 91 on rod 87,and the spring 93 which is set at any desired tension by collar 95 onrod 87 is compressed according to the thickness of the material beingstapled.

The work holder or intermediate work support 67 is preferably detachablymounted on the die head 5, so asto enable it to be removed when the endof a box is to be stapled, and it is movably mounted so as to be pressedupward by the work support. Said work holder may consist of a platehaving a flange 101, extending upwardly and then over the plate 67, andconnected to a vertically extending plate 103, pivoted at 10-1 to anangle member 105, which is carried by a bracket 106 removably attachedto the die head 5 by screw 108 and dowels 109. Plate 103 has a slot 110engaged by a bolt 111 on angle member 105 to guide the work holder inits vertical swinging movement on pivot 10 1. A portion 112 of plate orwork holder 67 extends beyond the flange portion 101, and directly underthe die means, and is provided with recesses or depressions 113 forreceiving the ends of the staple prongs and bending them to clenoh themon the work.

. The operation is as follows: In the normalposition of the parts, shownin Fig. 1, the clutch meansengages the shaft 6 from driving pulley 8, sothat said member and the parts operated thereby are at rest. The diemembers 26 and 30 are in most elevated position, and the forward end ofthe stock strip 59 extends within the slit 36 in the anvil member 33, inposition beneath the said die members. a The toggle 50, 51 in theoperating connection for the die member 26 is straight, and the arm ofthe bell crank 45 which is connected thereto is raised. Assuming thatthe machine is to be used for side-stapling boxes, the work holder 67will be in position between the work support 66 and the die means,'beingsupported by engagement of the upper end of slot 110 with the bolt 111on the angle member 105, so as to leave room both below and above it,for insertion of the box-blank. If more room is required forconveniently inserting the lower side for folded boxes, it is obtainedby depressing the pedal 82, which bends toggle 69, so as to temporarilylower the work support 66. The driving means 91 for operating the toggle69, 70 to force the work holder against the work, being normallyinoperative, and being only brought into operation when the machine isstarted in operation, does not resist or interfere with this collapsingof the toggle or with the return of the toggle to straight position. Thebox blank may consist of paper or board, bent to form the sides of thebox, and is placed over the work holder as indicated in dotted lines at117 in Fig. 14, so that one edge portion extends under the projectingand overhanging flange 101, and the other edge portion extends over saidflange, and said edge portions overlap at the part which is beyond theend of said flange, and rest on the extension 112 of the plate or workholder 67, and are directly under the die means. The member 67 is ofsuflicient length to serve as a guide for the box blank while it isbeing fed forward by hand to position for insertion of successivestaples. The operator having inserted the box blank as stated, presseson the pedal 21, thereby lifting rod 17 and lever 15, whereupon spring13 forces the pin 11 toward the driving pulley 8, and when, in therotation of said pulley, one ofthe holes 12 therein comes opposite saidpin, the pin will enter said hole and will clutch the member 9 to thedriving pulley. Actuating memher 9 will then rotate and as the cam 23connected thereto starts to turn, it depresses roller 92 and operatesthrough head 91 spring 93 collar 95 rod 87 bell crank 86, rod and bellcrank 72 to lift the link 70. The toggle constituted by said link and bythe rod 69 being at this time straight, it is lifted bodily and the bar66 constituting the work support is raised so as to engage the bottom ofthe lower side of the box blank and to raise the box blank and the workholder or intermediate work support 67 until the said work holder andbox blank are clamped tightly between the work support 66 and the bottomof the die head. In this operation the head 91 operates as areciprocating driving means, for bringing the work support up againstthe work, and the spring 93 operates as a yielding connection, enablingthe work support to yield under extra thickness of work and toautomatically adjust itself to the thickness of the work, withoutrequiring any adjustment of the die head. The rotation of member 9 alsooperates through eccentric 22 and rod 47, to turn bell crank 45 so thatits front arm descends, and in this movement the toggle 50, 51 and thelink 44: respectively move the die members 30 and 26 down together,until the prongs 28 on the male die member 26 have cut and bent down aportion at each side of the strip to form the prongs of the staple115115, as in my prior application aforesaid. In this operation theanvil 34- serves as a support for the interme diate portion of the endof the strip, while its side portions are being bent down as stated. Atthe moment when this operation has been completed the forward arm of thebell crank 45 has descended sufficiently to bring the knuckle pivot 5 1of toggle 50, 51 against trip means l9, and the toggle is thereby kickedover to position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that in the furtherdescent of said forward arm of the bell crank said toggle will bendfarther and the die member will not be moved farther, but the severingdie 30 will descend farther and will first sever the staple and engagethe inclined face portion 38 to push back the anvil 34 out of the slot29, so as to permit the sev ered staple to be pushed by the same die 30through said slot and to be driven into and through the work. In thisdriving action the inclined face portion 40 of the anvil member 33engages under the staple so as to furnish a yielding support therefor,which gradually recedes as the staple descends, and prevents the staplefrom buckling inwardly, as it is being driven into the work. As the cam23 and eccentric 22 complete their rotation, the work support 66 isdrawn down by the operation of spring 97 on rod 87, and the die means 26and 30 are restored to normal position by operation of bell crank 45.The operator then moves the box-blank forward to position for fasteninganother staple, and the operation is then repeated automatically. Inthis operation a row of staples is fastened through the overlapping edgeportions of the box blank, the staples being clenched by turning over inthe recess 113 in plate or work holder 67. \Vhen the operation iscompleted, the operator releases pedal 21 and the rod 17 and lever 15fall by gravity to normal position, and when in the ensuing rotation ofpulley S, the inclined face of pin comes against the inclined face 15 oflever 15, said pin is pressed back out of the hole 12 with which it hasbeen in engagement, and comes to rest against a shoulder 14 on lever 15.

For fastening an end of the box, the work holder 67 is removed and thebox blank is placed over the work support 66 as indicated in dottedlines in. Fig. 15, the pedal 82 being at this time pressed so'as to bendthe toggle 69, '70, by the operation of the stop means 78, as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 1 andthereby lower the work support sufficientlyto enable insertion of the box endwise thereover. The pedal 82 is thenreleased and the spring 7 7 returns the toggle 69, 70 to straightenedposition and lifts the work support to normal position, ready for theautomatic operation which then proceeds substantially as abovedescribed, under the control of the pedal '21.

IVha-t I claim is:

1. In a stapling machine, the combination with staple forming anddriving means, of a work support, normally inoperative meansfor'operating said work support toward and from said staple forming anddriving means, and a collapsible connection between said work supportand its operating means, to enable the distance between the Work supportand the forming and driving means to be temporarily increased.

2. In a stapling machine, the combination with staple forming anddriving means, of a work support, normally held away from said formingand driving means, operating means for reciprocating said work supporttoward and from said forming and driving means, said operating means,including a collapsible connection, ,and means for normally holding saidcollapsible connection extended.

3. In a stapling machine, the combination with staple forming anddriving means, of a work support, a reciprocating driving member, anintermediate reciprocating member, a yielding connection between saiddriving member and said intermediate member, a collapsible connectionbetween said intermediate member and said work support, means fornormally holding said collapsible connection extended, and means forcollapsing said connection.

4. In a stapling machine, the combination with staple forming anddriving means, of a worksupport, a toggle connected to said worksupport, reciprocating driving means connected to said toggle to movesaid work support toward and from the staple forming and driving means,means for normally holding said toggle extended and means for bendingsaid toggle to collapse the same.

5. In a stapling machine, the combination of a fixed head, stapleforming and driving means mounted therein, a reciprocating work support,driving means for operating said work support toward and from said fixedhead, said driving means being provided with a yielding connection toenable the work support to adapt itself to difierent thicknesses of workwhen it is operated against the work, and a work holder between the worksupport and the said fixed head, said work holder being movably mountedto be moved toward the said fixed head by the pressure of the worksupport.

6. In a stapling machine, the combination of a fixed head, stapleforming and driving means mounted therein, a reciprocating work support,driving means for operating said work support toward and from said fixedhead, and a work holder between the Work support and the fixed head saidwork holder being movably mounted to be moved toward the fixed head bythe pressure of the work support.

7. In a stapling machine, the combination of staple forming and drivingmeans, a work support, means for moving the work support toward theforming and driving means, a work holder extending between the worksupport and the forming and driving means and movably mounted to bemoved toward the forming and driving means by the pressure of the worksupport, and said work holder being removable to enable the work supportto be used for direct support of the Work.

8. In a staple forming machine, the combination of a die-member providedwith cutting and forming dies, for cutting and bending the prongs of thestaple, a severing die, an operating member, a link connecting saidoperating member to the severing die, a toggle connecting said operatingmember to said first named die member, a spring engaging said toggle tohold it normally extended, and trip means located in the path of aportion of said toggle to bend the toggle so as to disable it as anoperating medium for said die member, when said operating member haspartially completed its stroke.

9. In a staple forming machine, the combination with staple forming diemeans, of operating means therefor comprising a normally extendedcollapsible toggle, and means for engaging said toggle at a point in thestroke of said operating means, to forcibly bend and collapse thetoggle.

10. In a stapling machine, the combination of staple forming die means,staple driving means, an operating member, means connecting saidoperating member to the staple driving means, means connecting saidoperating member to the staple forming die means and comprising anormally extended toggle, means for forcibly engaging said toggle tocollapse the same at a point in the stroke thereof, and stop means forarrestin the movement of said staple forming die means.

11. In a stapling machine, the combination' with staple-formingdie-means, of staple severing means, operating means for said severingmeans, a collapsible toggle connection between the said operating meansand the staple-forming die-means, a spring for normally holding saidtoggle connection extended, trip means engaging said toggle connectionto bend the same on completion of the operation of said die-means, andstop means for arresting said die means when its operation is completed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Los Angeles,California, this 31st day of August, 1915.

LOUIS B. GIRARD.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

